Professional Boxer
Pranas Mikuličius was born on 26 May 1927 in Kaunas.
His mother last saw his son when he was lifted into a German Army truck outside their home at the age of 15. He was taken to work in the German Army where he dug trenches. Pranas fled when the Russians advanced and the Germans retreated, ending up in a Displaced Persons camp in Germany. It was here he learnt to box. He was undefeated in 15 amateur bouts in a German Club.
Pranas wanted to return to Lithuania if they are independent or chose Canada as his second option. Instead he arrived in Australia on the Charlton Sovereign on the 29th October 1948. His two year work contract was cutting timber at Gisborne. He soon married a fellow Lithuanian and raised a family.
He began to fight under the name Frank Michael because his trainer Jim Courts couldn’t pronounce his name. He then changed it to Pran Mickus. He debut in Australia on the 5th August 1949 against Pat Buchanan, a match he won. He won the Victorian welter weight title in Victoria. He planned to keep fighting until he had enough money to buy a small business, he had won enough to purchase a house in Footscray. He was also trained by Ambrose Palmer who described him as determined and consisted with great strength, stamina and aggressiveness to be a real crowd pleaser. His last match was fought against Barry Brown on 27 February 1956 in Wellington, which he lost.
He became a fitter’s assistant and when retired had been a waterside worker. He passed away in 2007.
Pran Mickus
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